ISHS Acta Horticulturae 480: I International Symposium on Fig
GENETIC RESOURCES IN FIG: DEVELOPING A PRECOCITY INDEX BASED ON RELATIVE NUMBERS OF UNDELAYED VERSUS DELAYED FIG |
| Authors: | S. Khadari, F. Kjellberg, P.E. Lauri, P. Villemur |
| Keywords: | Precocity index, caprifigs, proportion of mamme, pollinator dynamics, phenological stages |
| Abstract:
In caprifigs the relative number of undelayed (mamme) versus delayed (profichi) figs seems to be determined by the date of onset of mamme bud development. Hence the proportion of figs developing into mamme would increase with tree precocity. This hypothesis was tested in September-October 1996 by the observation of 74 caprifig trees cultivated in the same field plot (INRA Melgueil, Montpellier France). Mamme were carefully observed for internal structure and general aspect in order to assess their stage of development. Number of profichi buds, scars from fallen mamme, successfully visited mamme and the number of receptive and aborting mamme were counted. Observations show contrasting phenological stages. The proportion of mamme that are ripe is strongly correlated with the proportion of figs developing into mamme. This is in accordance with phenological data obtained in southern France. Genotypes which have many visited mamme well advanced in development would be more precocious than genotypes producing few mamme and many more profichi buds. Hence, the proportion of mamme seems to be a good indicator of precocity. | |
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